Poker Virgin

The game you have seen on telly and described as the 'Cadillac of Poker' is called Texas Holdem and it is all over a computer screen near you now !

The game has exploded because it is easy to learn the basics, but with enough intricacies so that skill can quickly take over from luck.

You cannot eliminate 'bad beats' but you can learn from them.

Two tips :-

1. Sign up with a site like Virgin Poker - click on the banner above - offering freerolls (multi table tournaments that are free to enter). Although they can be a bit of a lottery they offer real prize-money for a top % finish and therefore you will experience more genuine play than you will find on the 'play money' tables where very few people take it seriously.

At the moment I would doubly recommend Virgin Poker because as well as money you can win/earn V-Points, which if you collect enough can be exchanged for Virgin flights (or, ok, more money !)

2. Join a forum like Punters Lounge (ok, just PL). The poker section there is the best you will find and offers friendly advice and exclusive value tournaments. Tell them runadrum sent you !

Actually, make that three tips - and this will upset some of my colleagues on Punters Lounge - DO NOT PLAY 2-7 OFFSUIT, NEVER EVER.

It is not recognised as the worst starting hand for nothing. The one exception is if you are holding them in the Big Blind and no-one has raised before you so that you can check your 2-7 rather than fold. But if the flop does not contain at least one of each DITCH YOUR HAND AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.

Want to know the quickest way to the poorhouse ? Play 2-7 offsuit.